Argentina's presidential election, set to take place on November 19, is marked by contrasting visions for the country's future and allegations of potential election fraud. The run-off is between the current economy minister for the ruling Peronists, Sergio Massa, and libertarian outsider Javier Milei. The election comes at a time of economic instability, with inflation rates nearing 150% and two-fifths of the population living in poverty.
Massa, a centrist, has positioned himself as a defender of the welfare state and regional trade bloc Mercosur. On the other hand, Milei, a critic of China and leftist governments, advocates for dollarizing Argentina's economy and opposes abortion. However, Milei's denial of the dictatorship has failed to gain support in Argentine barracks, and his running mate, Victoria Villarruel, proposed dismantling a museum in memory of victims of Argentina's military dictatorship.
Adding to the election's complexity, Milei has echoed former US President Donald Trump's claims of election fraud, injecting uncertainty into Argentina's presidential runoff. He has claimed that the election results are dubious and that the system may deprive him of the presidency. However, he has provided no evidence to support these claims. The voting process in Argentina is antiquated, with paper ballots for each party and voters pick the one they want, put it in an envelope that they place into a cardboard ballot box.
Despite the country facing severe climate change consequences, the Argentinian presidential campaign has largely ignored environmental issues. During a recent debate, the environment was discussed for only 22 seconds. Milei, a climate skeptic, denied the impact of human activity on climate change.